Apparatus for opening and pressing seams



March 29, 1932. H TANNER 1,851,467

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND PRESSING SEAMS Filed June 25, 1931 INVENIOR Q #a-wfdqg /lwm (71 Patented Mar. 29, 1932 HAROLD TANNER, or KENDAL,

ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ISAAC BRAITHWAI'IE & SON

ENGINEERS LIMITED, or KENDAL, ENGLAND APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND PRESSIN'G SEAMS V Application filed June 23, 1931, Serial No. 546,247, and in Great Britain May 1, 1931.

This invention relates to apparatus for opening and pressing the seams of garments and is an improvement or modification of the apparatus described in the specification of my prior Patent No. 1,801,059.

In the prior specification No. 1,801,059 ap paratus is described by which, while the seam is being opened and pressed, a 'jet or spray of steam is injected into the seam simultaneously with the application of the pressure applied thereto, such injection of steam continuing for the whole duration of the time in which the pressure is applied and the valve controlling the steam is only closed when the pressure is released It has now been found that with certain cloths on which seams are to be opened it is necessary or advisable that steam should be supplied prior to the actual contact of the pressing members and that when the two members are in pressing contact it is not necessary that steam should be injected continuously on to the seam.

, According to the present invention the steam control valve is arranged to openfor an adjustable period at the commencement of the stroke of the moving pressing iron or head and to close either before the two irons or heads come into pressing contact, or immediately they come into contact so thatpressure between the two irons or heads can be maintained as long as is necessary without steam being injected on to the seam.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows avertical section through the two pressing irons or heads of the machine.

The apparatus is constructed as described in specification No. 1,801,059 with two steam heated pressing irons or heads A and B. The lower iron A is preferably stationary and is rigidly affixed to a frame C whilst the upper iron B is mounted in a bearing'a in the frame C in which bearing it is free to slide approximately at right angles to the face of the iron A.

The moveable head or iron B is carried on the end of a rocking lever D pivoted on the stud d secured to the frame C so that movement of'the'head B to and from the head A can be imparted through treadle and link V mechanism as described and illustrated in specification No. 1,801,059.

The moveable iron or head B is hollow and constructed with two chambers 12, 5. divided by a partition 6 Steam is supplied to the chamber Z) by the pipe 72 and passes through the port or passage btto the chamber 12 The sole plate or underside of the chamber 6? is perforated to permit steam to issue from the chamber 12 and impinge upon the work carried by the stationary head or-iron A.

t The two irons or heads A and B described in'the foregoing detailed description are sim-' ilar to those described in the prior specification No. 1,801,059 and do notform part; of the present invention which resides in'the construction and control of the valve Gr controlling the passage or portibfso that steam may be supplied from the chamber 6 to the chamber 6 prior to the contact of the two irons or heads A and B and cut ofi therefrom either before they come into contact or'immediately on their coming into contact so that pressure between the two irons or heads can be maintained as long as necessary without steam being injected on to the seam.

The valve G is screwed into the movable iron or head B and is provided with a transverseipassage 9 extending from the passage 6* to an approximately vertical passage 9 closed at the bottom end but opening at the top into the space g in which the valve closure member 9 works, A second approximately vertical passage g is arranged parallel. to the passage 9 and opens at thetop into the space 9 and at the bottom into the chamber 6 Theend of the passage g is normally closed by the closure member 9 formed on or affixed to theend of a spindle H, the closure member 9 being under the action of a spiral spring h surrounding the spindle H and acting between a collar h formed'on the spindle H near the end thereof and the inner face j of the gland or stufiing box J through which the spindle H slides.

A lever K or equivalent device is pivotally I mounted at one end is on a bracket Land at its centre 70 is pivotally connected to the top of the valve spindle H. The other or free end lo of the lever K which is more or less vertically above the top of the spindle H carries a pawl M pivoted thereon and held in its normal position against a stop or pin on by a spring m affixed at one end tothe lever K between the bracket L and the top of the valve spindle H. V

A striker N arranged to be adjusted horizontally is mounted ina bracket N afiixed on the stationary frame C of the machine in the path of the pawl M. The bracket N is affixed to the frame C by the screws a which pass through a slot n so that the bracket can be adjusted in a direction parallel tothe movement of the iron or head B. V

In operation as the iron or head B moves towards-the stationary iron or head A the pawl M comes into contact with the striker N and acting through the stop or pin m causes the lever K to rock upon its fulcrum on its supporting bracket L. This movement of the lever K lifts the valve spindle H and withit the closure "member 9 from its seating on the top of the passage 9 against the pressure of the" spring h. As the iron or head B continues to move downwards the pawl M swings clear of the striker N and the spring h returns the valve to its seat therebycutting off the supply of steam to the lower chamber Z2 of the iron or'head H. On the'upward stroke'of the iron orh'ead B the pawl M on coming into contact with the striker N moves on its pivot away from the stop m and on passing the striker N the spring m returns the pawl M to its normal position without causing anyswinging movement of the lever K. I

The timing of the opening and closing of the valve can be regulated by varying the osition of the bracket N carrying the'striker T and the length of time the valve remains open can be adjusted by adjusting the horizontal position of the striker N relative to the pawl M. The nearer the striker 'N is to the pawl M the longer it will remain in contact therewith and the longer the valve will remain open.

VWhat I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 7 1. In apparatus of the type for pressing and opening the seams of garments, the combinationwith a stationary steam heated pressinghead on which the work is laid, a substantially-vertically movable steam heated pressing head with a perforated face, a portion dividing the movable-head into two compartments, a valve spindle and a closure member thereon controlling the passage of steam from" one compartment to the other of a lever pivotally mounted at one end on a horizontal aXison a bracket carried by the movable head andpivotally attached intermediate its ends to the top of the valve spindle, a pawl 'mou'nted on a horizontal .aXis carried by the .other'end of the leve-r'an'd a striker carried spindle-and cause theclosure member to ?be lifted and steam allowedhtoypass fromone by the frame of the machine adapted to be engaged by the pawl as the movable head moves towards the stationary head so that the lever is caused to move on its pivot and raise the valve spindle andrcause the closure member to be lifted and steam "allowed to pass from one compartment to the other and thence impinge on to thework before the two heads come into contact, r 2. In apparatus of the type 'for pressing and opening the seams of garments, the combination with a stationarysteam heated press- 7 ing head on which the work is laid, a substantially 'vertically mova'bl'e steam heated pressing head with a perforated face, a portion dividing'the movable head into two-compartments, a valve spindle-and a closure inem ber' thereon controlling the passage of steam from one compartment to the other; era lever pivotallymounted at one endon' ahorizontal axis on a bracket carried by the movable head and pivotally' attached intermediate its ends to, the top of the valve spindle, a pawl mounted on-a horizontal axis 7 and opening the seams of garments, thecombination with a stationary steam heated pressing head onwhich the work is laid, .a "sub stantially vertically movable steam heated pressing head with aperforated' face, arportion dividing the movablehead into two compartments,a valve spindle and aclosur'ejmember thereon controlling the passage of steam from one compartment to the other gofa lever pivotally-mounted at one endton a horizontal axis on-a' bracket carried by the'movable head and ,pivotally attached intermediate its ends to the top of the valve spindle, a pawl mounted on a horizontal axis carried by the other end of the lever, a vertically adjustable bracket carried by the frame of the'machine, a striker horizontally adj ustabl y' mounted in said bracket and adaptedto be engaged by the pawl as the movable head moves' towards the stationary head 'sothatthe leveris caused to move on its pivot and raise the valve compartmentto the other and thence impinge on to thew-ork before the twoheads come into 'c'ontact,-'a stop on'the lever to limit'the movemen'tofthe pawl and a spring act'ing o'n'the pawl to return the latter to its position against the stop after the pawl has been moved during the return movement of the moving head.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd olalyI of June, 1931.

AROLD TANNER. 

